Friday, 7 June 2013

For African Literature, Another Voice Beckons From Within

By Anote Ajeluorou

Africa’s cultural validation
always seem to come from outside the continent, but usually with a mixed
baggage of the good and the not so-good. This has had the sorry implication of
the hunter always telling the story of the hunt usually at the expense of the
hunted. It was what Africa’s literary ancestor Chinua Achebe spent most of his
life’s career fighting – to retrieve the soul of Africa’s cultural historicity
from the one-sided narratives of the West.

Indeed, Achebe pointedly told the West, represented by the
Swedish Academy in 1986, when he declined to attend a conference on African
literature (a probable reason why he never got the Nobel Prize for Literature),
“I regret I cannot accept your generous invitation for the simple reason that I
do not consider it appropriate for African writers to assemble in European
capitals in 1986 to discuss the future of their literature. In my humble
opinion it smacks too much of those constitutional conferences arranged in
London and Paris for our pre-independence political leaders.

“The fault, however is not with the organisers such as
yourselves, but with us the writers of Africa who at this point in time should
have outgrown the desire for the easy option of using external platforms instead
of grappling with the problem of creating structures of their own at home.

“Believe me, this is not an attempt to belittle the effort
and concern of your organisation or indeed of the Swedish people who have
repeatedly demonstrated their solidarity with African aspirations in many different
ways. But I strongly believe that the time is overdue for Africans, especially
African writers, to begin to take the initiative in deciding the things that
belong to their peace”.

With telecommunication giant Etisalat instituting a new
literary contest to further empower African writers and boost writing on the
continent, Etisalat Prize for Literature, as homegrown validation for African
writing and writers could not have come at a better time. It is indeed another
welcome validation. With its handsome 15,000 British pounds prize tag, the
Etisalat Prize for African Literature has further opened up the literary space
on the continent for young writers to reach the top.

The Etisalat Prize for African Literature comes against the
background of similar prizes already making the round. In Nigeria alone,
there’s The Nigerian Prize for Literature, sponsored by gas giant, Nigeria
Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) company. This prize is strictly for Nigerian
authors residing anywhere in the world, and worth $100,000.00. There’s also the
Wole Soyinka Prize for African Literature, a continent-wide prize that will
start on a rotational format from next edition next year in all the genres of
literature starting with drama. Prose fiction has dominated since inception in
2006. It’s organised by the Dr. Ogochukwu Promise-led Lumina Foundation.

However, the new prize’s target is unique, as it aims to
identify only first-time, new entrants in the literary block and reward them
for their first novel, which must be from 30,000 words long.

The prize entry opened last week, June 5, the launch date,
to publishers who have published a minimum of five authors in the last three
years. All entries will be vetted and scrutinized by a panel of four pre-selected
judges chaired by associate professor in the Department of African Literature
at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, Pumla Gqola, Other judges
are Zaks Mda, Professor of Creative writing at the University of Ohio and
winner of the Commonwealth Prize, Billy Kahora, Managing Editor of Kwani? and Sarah Ladipo Manyika, writer and academic.

These judges will work together to select the long list as
well as a shortlist of three novels and finally the winner who will be
announced in February 2014.

ETISALAT MD/CEO, Mr. Steven
Evans said his company’s passion for excellence and empowerment was among the
values that were at the core of the prize, adding, “The Etisalat Prize for
Literature will empower young writers by providing a platform for first time
writers of published fiction novels to be discovered. It will also reward
excellence in literary writing. We are pleased to have initiated this important
project that celebrates literary excellence and creativity in Nigeria and across
Africa.“We believe literature has the
potential to effect change and serve as a catalyst for promoting a cultural
revolution. However, it is a field that has been relegated to the background,
making African fiction and short story writers to look to international awards
for recognition. The Etisalat Prize for Literature is our way of sharing in the
passions and aspirations of young and upcoming writers as well as breathing new
life into the literary society”.

He also noted that the aim of Etisalat Prize for Literature
was to serve as a viable platform for the discovery of new creative talent from
the continent and invariably promote the growing publishing industry in Africa.

Entries for the prize will be accepted in two categories,
namely: Full length English fiction novels and Flash Fiction Short Stories.

Chair of judges, Pumla Gqoka said quality and excellent
writing would be what the judges would be looking for in the entries.

Etisalat Head, High Value Events and Sponsorship, Ebi
Atawode stated that launching the literary prize was a dream come true for her
and her company, Etisalat. She enjoined African writers to seize the
opportunity to perfect their writing craft and be duly rewarded for it.

Winner of the prize will also enjoy a fellowship at
University of East Anglia’s Creative Writing Programme. 1000 copies of the
three shortlisted authors will be purchased by etisalat and distributed to
libraries. Other details can be obtained at etisalat website.